Wireless Audio Streaming Synchronization for Home Theater
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home theater architectures face limitations in scalability and installation flexibility due to the need for physical HDMI connections, which can restrict the placement of soundbar devices and complicate synchronization of audio and video data, especially when dealing with multiple satellite speakers.
Innovation Solution
A computing device configured to transmit video data via HDMI or wirelessly and stream audio data to wireless speakers, allowing for arbitrary delay in video transmission to accommodate audio data transmission, thereby avoiding synchronization issues and enabling more flexible placement and scaling of home theater systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical HDMI connections are used for audio and video transmission, then synchronization between audio and video is maintained, but installation flexibility and scalability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical HDMI connection system with a wireless transmission system. The soundbar wirelessly transmits audio data to satellite speakers using wireless communication protocols, eliminating the need for physical HDMI cables while maintaining audio-video synchronization through timestamp-based coordination and buffering mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary buffering and synchronization mechanism between the video source and wireless audio transmission. The system uses timestamps and buffering to coordinate audio and video delivery, acting as a mediator that ensures synchronization without requiring direct physical connections between components.
2Quantity of substance
If multiple satellite speakers are connected via HDMI, then audio distribution is achieved, but system complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the audio transmission system into independent wireless nodes. Each satellite speaker operates as an independent wireless receiver that pairs with the soundbar individually, eliminating the need for complex daisy-chained HDMI connections. This allows multiple speakers to be added without increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The soundbar is designed as a universal controller that can wirelessly manage multiple satellite speakers simultaneously. The system uses a standardized wireless protocol that allows the soundbar to communicate with any number of compatible satellite speakers, providing multi-functionality without requiring different connection methods for different speaker configurations.
3Speed
If audio and video are transmitted simultaneously over HDMI, then synchronization is maintained, but latency and synchronization issues occur in wireless environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary buffering of audio data before wireless transmission. The soundbar buffers audio packets and assigns timestamps in advance, allowing the system to compensate for variable wireless transmission delays. This preliminary timing coordination ensures that audio and video arrive simultaneously at the output devices even though transmission speeds may vary.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback mechanisms where the soundbar receives status information from satellite speakers about packet arrival times and adjusts transmission timing accordingly. This closed-loop feedback ensures that synchronization is maintained despite variations in wireless transmission speed or environmental interference.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are computing devices, including playback devices, that are configured to operate in several media distribution modes and play back audio data in several playback modes based at least in part on the source of audio/video data for playback. Also disclosed is a method of using a control device such as a mobile device as a secondary display to provide supplemental content to a user while viewing video content on a primary display such as a television.